North Atlantic islands fact file

North Atlantic islands – overview

The North Atlantic Ocean can be defined as the waterbody that stretches from southern Iceland in the north to the equator in the south. It is bordered in the north by the Arctic Ocean, as well as many other smaller water bodies including the North, Labrador, Sargasso and Caribbean Seas. The surface waters of the North Atlantic Ocean have a higher salinity than any other ocean in the world.

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the longest mountain range in the world, runs through the centre of the Atlantic Ocean from Iceland to the Bouvet Islands. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is the separation point of the tectonic plates that once held the supercontinent Pangaea together around 180 million years ago. The movement of these tectonic plates caused the initial separation of the continental landmasses and created the space between North and South America and Europe and Africa that is now the Atlantic Ocean. Located in the western Caribbean is the deepest point in any of the world’s oceans, the Puerto Rico Trench, which reaches depths of around 8,648 metres.

The origins of the North Atlantic islands are diverse, with some forming from tectonic plate movements that separated the islands from the main continental landmass, some from the accumulation of volcanic material and many from the build-up of dead coral and other organic matter. From the biodiverse tropical Caribbean islands in the south-west to the barren Arctic islands of the north-east, the islands of the North Atlantic Ocean are extremely varied in their appearance, geographical features and biological richness. As with other islands around the world, the isolated nature of many of the North Atlantic islands has facilitated the evolution of numerous endemic species, although some younger islands have very low levels of endemism. The climate of marine areas in the North Atlantic varies greatly between the tropical coral reefs and warm waters of the south to the sub-zero Arctic conditions of the north.

Threats

Island habitats facilitate the evolution of unique species and subspecies that often have very different biological features to their mainland relatives. Many of these island species have evolved without the presence of predators, meaning that they are especially vulnerable to the introduction of non-native species. A large amount of non-native animals and plants have established populations on the islands they were introduced to by humans and become invasive, creating multiple ecological problems that have led to population declines and extinctions.

The popularity of the North Atlantic islands for tourism has resulted in vast areas of natural habitats being removed for development and urban areas are constantly expanding to accommodate the growing human population, putting ecosystems and the species living within them at risk. Many of the low-lying islands of the North Atlantic are at risk from the rising sea levels that are being caused by climate change and an increase in the extreme weather patterns in the area could result in the extinction of many species and demolition of their habitats.

Overfishing is a threat to all marine life and in the North Atlantic Ocean many fisheries have collapsed or are close to doing so. The fishing industry is also harmful to bird populations any many have decreased due to individuals becoming entangled in nets, ingesting fishing equipment and starving due to a reduction in available prey. Non-target species, such as sea turtles and marine mammals, are frequently caught as bycatch in fishing nets and their populations are decreasing consequently.

The Bahamas

The Bahamas are composed of over 3,000 islands, cays and rocks, of which only 29 are inhabited. These islands are extremely low-lying with an average elevation of 10 metres, and a maximum elevation of just 60 metres.

The diverse habitats of the Bahamas include extensive mangrove forests, wetlands, dry tropical forests, coral reefs and seagrass beds. These areas are extremely important for numerous species, providing them with shelter and a source of food.

The Bahamas is home to many endemic birds, plants and mammals and reptiles.

As the Bahamas are a popular tourist destination, extensive areas of natural habitat have been removed to allow development, especially coastal mangrove forests. The resident human populations on the inhabited islands are also growing, putting more pressure on these habitats for development and conversion for agriculture.

It is thought that climate change is destined to have a highly detrimental impact on the Bahamas as they are extremely low-lying, therefore rising sea levels may cause many areas to disappear under water. As the Bahamas are known to be the islands that are most exposed to hurricanes in the Caribbean, the increase in extreme weather events that has been predicted due to climate change could lead to the destruction of natural habitats on these islands and could even cause species extinctions.

Many protected areas have been created throughout the Bahamas, and Inagua National Park has been designated as a wetland of international importance due to its significance to visiting and resident birds.

Find out more about conservation in The Bahamas

Bermuda

Bermuda is situated in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean around 900 kilometres from the Coast of the United States.

Bermuda is made up of 7 main islands and over 140 smaller islands, arranged in a crescent-like formation. The northernmost coral reefs and mangroves in the world are found around Bermuda.

The highly isolated location of Bermuda and its volcanic origin have resulted in comparatively low biodiversity and low rates of endemism on the islands. There are around 15 plant species, as well as around 41 insect and 9 fish species that are found only in Bermuda.

Before Bermuda was colonised by humans, the natural habitats on the islands included extensive coastal mangrove forests and wetlands, although only small areas of these remain today.

Introduced species have had an extremely negative impact on the fauna and flora found throughout the Bermudan islands. The introduction of an insect in the 1940s resulted in a 96% decline of the endemic cedar population.

Bermuda’s thriving tourism industry has led to the landscape being completely altered and natural habitats continue to be removed to facilitate the development of new tourist areas.

Due to the movement of oceanic currents, a large quantity of plastic is present in the marine areas that surround Bermuda, meaning that marine life frequently becomes entangled in the debris or will ingest plastic particles. Additionally, large amounts of plastic debris are stranded on the beaches of the Bermudan islands, which is extremely damaging for the coastal ecosystem.

There is a comprehensive protected areas network throughout Bermuda, including 12 nature reserves and 63 parks. Most of the remaining mangrove forests are legally protected, although laws are often not enforced.

There are many legal frameworks protecting the species of Bermuda, including a law that has banned the harvest of all coral species since 1978.

Find out more about conservation in Bermuda

British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands are composed of 60 small islands, cays and rocks and are located in the eastern Caribbean. The four largest islands are Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda and Jost van Dyke.

Over 210 resident and migratory bird species have been recorded throughout the British Virgin Islands. A quarter of the amphibian and reptile species are endemic, as are 45 plant and 1 butterfly species.

The marine habitats surrounding the British Virgin Islands are highly productive and biodiverse. They are an extremely important nesting and foraging ground for marine turtles and the Anegada Horseshoe Reef is the third largest barrier reef in the world.

Before many of the natural habitats were modified in the British Virgin Islands, cactus scrubland and dry tropical forests dominated the landscape. After human settlement, much of the land was converted for agriculture and the subsequent introduction of invasive species of fauna and flora led to the local extinction of many native species. A small amount of natural habitats remain, including primary rainforest in Tortola and Virgin Gorda, coastal mangrove forest and dry tropical forests.

The position of the British Virgin Islands makes them extremely vulnerable to hurricanes and other extreme weather events, which can damage natural habitats and displace local species.

There are many protected areas across the British Virgin Islands, including national parks, bird sanctuaries, marine protected areas and wetlands. Legal frameworks are in place to protect native species and there are ongoing conservation projects to encourage population growth.

Find out more about conservation in the British Virgin Islands

Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are a group of volcanic islands that are around 115 kilometres from the northwestern coast of Africa. There are seven main islands Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and Hierro.

The Canary Islands are made up of debris from an underwater volcano that accumulated over millions of years, eventually reaching the surface of the ocean.

The rate of endemism is extremely high on the Canary Islands, with 100 percent of reptile, over 44 percent of invertebrate and over 25 percent of plant species found nowhere else in the world. There are also 5 species and 31 subspecies of endemic birds.

The scrubland and pine forests dominate the landscape of the Canary Islands, and there are also large areas of laurel forest which are only found in the Macaronesia region.

Many areas of natural habitat in the Canary Islands have been removed to accommodate tourist developments and roads, and water extraction has led to increased desertification. The introduction of invasive species has resulted in the reduction of many native species’ populations and illegal hunting persists in some areas despite legal frameworks being in place to protect the fauna and flora of the islands.

There are over 145 protected areas throughout the Canary Islands, including 2 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Find out more about conservation in the Canary Islands

Cape Verde

Cape Verde is located around 460 kilometres from the African coast and is formed of 10 major islands and many smaller uninhabited islands.

Cape Verde is recognised as a marine biodiversity hotspot and around 20 species of cetacean and 60 species of elasmobranch are regularly recorded in the waters surrounding the islands. Many of the beaches of Cape Verde are globally important nesting areas for loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) and the local seagrass meadows provide foraging grounds for four other endangered species of turtle.

The natural habitats in Cape Verde vary from being desert-like and flat to luscious high-elevation forests.

The marine fauna in Cape Verde is threatened by boat traffic, destructive and illegal fishing practices and the conversion of coastal areas. A high proportion of terrestrial habitats have been converted for agriculture and many have been overgrazed by cattle and goats. The overexploitation of natural resources and introduction of invasive species has devastated many natural areas throughout Cape Verde.

It has been recommended that more conservation education initiatives are initiated throughout Cape Verde to stop practices such as shark finning, which is prominent throughout the region. The management of protected areas must be improved as legislation is often not enforced.

Find out more about conservation in Cape Verde

Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands are a small group of low-lying islands in the Caribbean with three main islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The islands are an extremely important stop-over and wintering area for numerous migratory bird species.

Floral endemism is relatively low, and just 21 of the 601 plant species are endemic to the islands. Of the 26 species of reptile and amphibian found in the Cayman Islands, 75 percent are endemic and 30 of the 48 species of freshwater mollusc are found nowhere else on Earth.

A very small amount of the original habitat of the Cayman Islands remains due to large areas of forest being removed for timber and fuel, and there is development pressure on the remaining forests due to urban expansion. Rats and feral cats and dogs are responsible for reductions in the population sizes of many species and the extinction of some endemic species can be attributed to the introduction of non-native species.

The Cayman Islands National Trust was established to conserve the remaining natural habitats of the islands. Various captive breeding programmes are in place in an attempt to bring many species back from the brink of extinction.

Cuba

Cuba is located around 145 kilometres south of Florida in the United States. Cuba is a large island with several archipelagos.

There is an extremely high rate of endemism in Cuba, with around 50 percent of plant and 42 percent of animal species found nowhere else on Earth. There are 15 <endemic mammal, 91 reptile, 43 amphibian, 23 fish and 22 bird species.

The natural habitats on Cuba range from tropical rainforests to completely arid landscapes. Wetlands are found on around 4 percent of Cuba’s surface, providing a habitat for numerous resident marine organisms and many migratory birds.

Many forests on Cuba and its archipelagos have been removed for the development of agricultural and urban areas, or have been overgrazed by cattle, goats and sheep. Mining, pollution and the introduction of invasive species have also been highly detrimental to the natural habitats of Cuba and its biodiversity.

There are many protected areas throughout Cuba as well as reforestation policies, agricultural laws and public education initiatives. An increase in financial resources would help to improve the conservation measures that are already in place.

Find out more about conservation in Cuba

Iceland

Iceland is a volcanic island located around 290 kilometres from the eastern coast of Greenland and 970 kilometres west of Norway. It has the lowest population density of any country in Europe, although a large proportion of the land is uninhabitable.

There are 61 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Iceland which support over 300 bird species.

The highly isolated location and extreme climate of Iceland mean that there is a very low level of endemism and biodiversity in the terrestrial areas, although the surrounding ocean is home to a diverse array of marine plants and animals. There are no reptiles or amphibians in Iceland.

Around 11 percent of Iceland is covered by glacier and 6 percent by rivers and lakes.

Under 40 percent of natural wetlands remain in Iceland as many have been drained and converted into agricultural land and only 1 percent of the birch woodland remains.

Up to 40 percent of the terrestrial habitats in Iceland are threatened by soil erosion due to the clearance of forested areas and overgrazing. Many wetlands have been contaminated by pollution from urban areas or been drained, reducing the amount of suitable nesting areas for the large visiting populations of migratory birds. These populations have been depleted further by the introduction of the American mink (Neovison vison) which predates eggs and nestlings.

Climate change is set to dramatically change the landscape of Iceland and many of its glaciers have already melted. Gas and oil exploration in the region may threaten the natural habitats of Iceland and birds that visit the island in the future.

Around 12 percent of Iceland’s terrestrial area is legally protected, and there are around 85 national parks, nature reserves, natural monuments and country parks. In marine areas, there are strict fishing regulations in place and fishing for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) with nets is often prohibited in an attempt to protect the local population. Legislation has been put in place to control agricultural practices and prevent them from causing any further damage to Iceland’s natural habitats.

Find out more about conservation on Iceland

Jamaica

Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean and is located to the south of Cuba.

Among the world’s islands, Jamaica is ranked fifth for floral endemism and of the 3,003 flowering plant species in Jamaica, 28 percent are endemic. There are over 20 endemic birds and numerous reptile and amphibian species.

The tropical and subtropical broadleaf forests make up around 15 percent of the total land area of Jamaica and there are also smaller areas of mangrove forest and wetland.

Many of the forests that once covered Jamaica have been converted for agriculture or the development of urban or tourist areas, and many have been removed for the construction of bauxite mines.

Over recent years, more emphasis has been put on the ecotourism industry in Jamaica and therefore more areas have been protected from development. Unfortunately the lack of management and monitoring of these protected areas has meant that many are still being exploited for their natural resources and converted for other uses.

Find out more about conservation in Jamaica

Madeira

Madeira is an archipelago of volcanic origin that is located around 400 kilometres north of Tenerife and 580 kilometres west of Morocco.

The word Madeira is Portuguese for ‘wood’, referring to the extensive laurel forest that once covered the island. The laurel forests of Madeira are the largest and best-preserved in the world, although only 20% of the original cover remains.

There have been over 7,500 terrestrial species recorded in Madeira, of which around 19 percent (over 1,400) are endemic. Among the endemic species there are 210 terrestrial molluscs and 979 arthropods.

The habitats in Madeira vary from sand dunes to humid evergreen broadleaf forests.

Clearance for agriculture and road construction contributed towards the mass deforestation that has occurred across Madeira and many natural areas have been converted to accommodate the growing human population and tourism industry. The introduction of various invasive species has led to the overgrazing of natural habitats and predation on native animals.

There are six protected areas within archipelago, including the Madeira National Park which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Every remaining area of laurel forest is legally protected from development, although introduced goats and sheep often graze in these areas which threatens the future survival of these unique and endangered habitats.

Find out more about conservation in Madeira

Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands is an archipelago that lies around 920 kilometres south-east of Florida. There are two distinct groups of islands, the Caicos group and the Turks group, which are separated by a deep water channel. It is thought that the coral reefs surrounding these islands are the least damaged in the whole Caribbean.

There are a large amount of wetlands throughout the Turks and Caicos Island, including creeks, lagoons, salinas and marshes. Dry forests and mangroves can also be found in some areas.

Birdlife is plentiful and ever-changing in the Turks and Caicos Islands due to many species stopping along their migration paths or visiting to breed, although some are endemic to the islands. There are 15 species of amphibian and reptile found in the Turks and Caicos Islands, of which 4 of the lizard species are endemic.

Already prone to flooding, the Turks and Caicos Islands will be at risk in the future from the rising sea levels that are being caused by climate change.

The lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a voracious invasive predator that is negatively affecting marine life in the Turks and Caicos Islands, although there are efforts in place to control any further spread. Conservation projects have been implemented to protect marine turtles, iguanas and native plants.

There are 35 protected areas in the Turks and Caicos Islands that include national parks, nature reserves, sanctuaries and areas of historic interest.

Glossary

a major grouping of animals that includes crustaceans, insects and arachnids. All arthropods have paired jointed limbs and a hard external skeleton (exoskeleton).

Bycatch

in the fishing industry, the part of the catch made up of non-target species.

Cetacean

a whale, dolphin or porpoise.

Desertification

a process of sustained decline of the biological productivity of arid and semiarid land; the end result is desert, or skeletal soil that is irrecoverable.

Elasmobranch

a member of a group of cartilaginous fish that includes sharks, skates and rays.

Endemic

a species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.

Endemism

the degree to which a species or taxonomic group is confined to a single region.

Feral

previously domesticated animals that have returned to a wild state.

Invasive

describes species introduced deliberately or unintentionally outside their natural habitats where they have the ability to establish themselves, invade, outcompete natives and take over the new environments.

a diverse group of invertebrates, mainly marine, that have one or all of the following: a horny, toothed ribbon in the mouth (the radula), a shell covering the upper surface of the body, and a mantle or mantle cavity with a type of gill. Includes snails, slugs, shellfish, octopuses and squid.

Primary forest

forest that has remained undisturbed for a long time and has reached a mature condition.

Subspecies

a population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species, but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species.

Tectonic plates

large sections of the Earth’s crust which move slowly over the mantle (the molten layer between the crust and the Earth’s core). Over very long periods of time, tectonic plates may move closer together or further apart, causing natural events such as earthquakes, volcanoes and the formation of mountains or ocean trenches along their boundaries.

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North Atlantic islands have been profiled with support from The Bromley Trust to help raise awareness about the importance of North Atlantic islands and their distinctive biodiversity, and the need for their protection and conservation.